Surgical support



Sept. 20, 1932. S T SURGICAL SUPPORT Filed Aug. 17, 1927 Frank J Stuart,

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 FRANK J. srt'rARr; or sa ouis, "ivr'rss'ounrSURGICAL SUPPORT Application filed August 17, 1927. Seiial No. 213,583.

The invention relates to improvements in hernia pads and the like. Ithas been known in the prior art to provide a central hard pad orknob-like member to bear upon the hernia or other afflicted part, and ithas been a development to provide around such hard pad a soft cushionmember, such as an annulus of soft rubber, whereby a maximum pressure ofthe complete device may be possible without liability of thrusting thehard element too deeply into the tissues. It has also been appreciatedthat an adjustment of thehard element with respect to the soft cushionis desirable, and devices have beenevolved to meet such requirements,examples of which are found in the patent to Forsberg, No. 54,521, May8th, 1856; McCullom, 1,158,139, October 26, 1915, and Fuller, 453,298,June 2, 1891. I

It is an object of my invention to enable the embodiment of a device ofthis character with the encircling soft cushion adjustable upon the hardpad in a novel and ine'Xpensive manner and also with an absence ofstructural elements liable to derangement of involving excessivebulk ordisagreeable appearance.

It is also an important aim to avoid excessive weight in such devices,and complicated manufacturing operations, and in-the attainment of theseobjects I have also cheapened the articlewithout detracting from itsfunctional merits'so as to place it within the reach of the publicgenerally and adaptable to use by persons of inexperience in such manneras to attain the proper functions required of such appliances. j 1

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in theconstruction, the arragements and combination of parts as will beunderstood from the following 0 scription and accompanying drawing,

wherein I I I Figure 1 is an elevational view of an applianceconstructed in accordance with my invention including means for itssecurement =15 upon the body'of a patient. Figure 2 is a detailof theannulus showing its form and size detached. I Figure 3 is across'sec'tion of the appliance, the hard pad being in elevation,

Figure e is a fragmentary top View of pad element.

. while thelower parts of the the Pad and mounting as shown in Figure 1,with "a portion of the adhesive omitted.

' Figure ,5 is an elevational view of the hard 9 Figure 6 is a verticalsectional view of the appliance showing it as appliedto the body of aperson. V Figure 7 is a cross section of a modification of the annulus16,. I j i The figures are the full size tive device 'as-marketed. I w 1Thereis-illustrated a hard or semi=hard pad element 10, which in thepresent instance is hollowand apertured at itsbodyengag- V 7 mg pointfor use as an applicator of an ab- 65 sorbable, medica, as it serves inretaining a hernia when set thereover, or per-forming otherjfunct'ions.The pad 10is ovatein top View as 'shown'in Figure 4, and may be somewhat apple-shaped in longitudinal section and pear-shaped incross-section, as indicate'd'i'n Figures 1 and 3. It is formed with ofan Opera 50 a flat bottom 11 centrally of which a slight recess 1'2issometimes formed, having angular edges. An attaching means is providedthe form of a sheet of fabric having an adhesive coating 14 throughouton one side, this support being customarily formedof a comparativelybroad "stripwith 1 a an enlarged oval end portion 15. shown in Figure 4.The pad is set with its flat bottom side centrally of the enlargement 15and pressed forcibly thereon. The adhesive coating 14 is of mam-remserve as apermanent attachment of the pad to the fabric, and the centralportion of the f abric and adhesive material being embedded in therecess 12 affords 'a furtherflassurance of adequate anchorage, sothat'the pad is not likely to slipon 1 the mounting fabric. I j I [Thepad'10 is oval in plan and is sub.- stantially apple-shaped as viewed insection taken on a plane coincident with themajor axis of this ovfal andperpendicular to the bottom 11; while in a'corresponding section on theminor axis of the oval, the pad ,is in the shape ofanfegg frustrum, thesfnaller end of theeggb'eingcut off; That is to say, pad are convex asviewed in the sections mentioned, it is nulus 16 is circular in cross?section initially,

the part 10', this cross sectional 'shape'yis deion to engage the bodyof the wearenl; Ini-i tially, the opening through the annulus v16 ismuch smaller than the cross sectional -dimension of the pad 16 to beengaged, so that the annulusfits snugly and with ample frie tionalbearing. up'on'lthe pad 10; The anbut by reason of the ma-nner ofits fitupon formed, as shown in Figure3, so that a large bearing surface isobtained between the annulus 16 and pad 10. Consequently, the annulus 16will remainwherever adjusted'bej tween the base of the pad 10 and" itsouter part, within the range of adjustments de sirable in suchappliances. "Itis desirable that the surfaces of the sidesof the padshall diverge outwardly from the base in order to prevent-casualmovement of the annulus16 toward the body-engaging portion of the pad 10under exigencies of body movement and pressure variously exerted uponthe device externally of the wearer; At thefsame time,

in applying this device in accordance-with practices understood intheart, it will be apparent that the annulus 16 is also securely heldby theadhesive fabric in proper opera ative relation tothe body of the wearer.

If desired, a multiplicity of circumscribing fine ribs or serrations1718 may be formed respectively upon the'pad 10. andon the annulus 16,as above mentioned, and shown in Figures 5, and'Z. Where the ribs 17 areformed on the pad, when theannulus 16 is put in place, a portion of thematerial of the annulus willsink between the ribs or serrations andthereby be held against movement transversely of the ribs. If the ribsare also formed on theannulus 16 a very positive adjustment'niay besecured. r In the use of the pad 10 in connection with attaching meanssuch as here shown, it 'is customary to warm the adhesive'aiid adjustthe part 10 properly upon the hernia or other affected part, drawingthe'adhesive fabric outwardly and pressing'it securely upon the skin ofthelwearerthe muscular tissues being in a relaxed condition-While thepad is held in proper bearing upon the'body; In consequence,jthe padis-the ii held in place without the use of laces, belts, or otherfastenings. The annulus 16 ,isinc luded between the body andthe adhesivesupport, which is be more, or less flexible.

wall. For a maximum projection of the pad 10, the annulus 16 ispressed,toward the base ofthe pad until the desired projection isattained,.while if a minimum projection is desired, the annulus 16 isadjusted inwardly toward the portion of major diameter in thepad (seedottedposition in Figure 1). These adjustments being made before theappli mice is adjusted upon the person, and before the adhesive is drawninto Contact with the annulus 16, when the adhesive is drawn taut andthen brought inwardly upon the an nulus the latter is secured positivelyin the positionto which it is adjusted upon the pad, and the subsequentapplication of the extreme edge portions of the adhesive fabric to thebody of the wearer'additionally retains the annulus in proper" place. Atthe same time the annulus 16 itself supports the pad 10 resiliently byreason of the indirect connection between the adhesive vfabric and thebottom ing liability of displacement of the pad 10 from its exactadjustment-upon the body of the person applied, as is apparent. This hasspecial functional value-in enhancing the massaging action'of the pad10, a certain of the pad 10, and this afiords a resilient support of thepad 10 without, however, IIIYOlV- amount of relativemovement of the pad10 upon the affected p'artjbeing recognized as advantageous as'long asit is properly'limited.

Also theannulus 16 by this manner of mount- ,ing exerts a gentle workingof the tissues adjacent the area of bearing of the pad 10.

It will be seen that without the use of truss, belt, mounting metal, orother rigid mountingandwithout the use of levers,- screws or the like, Ihave attained the provision of a relatively adjustable pad and cushionannulus meeting the requirements of the surgical uses contemplated, andat the same time have provided an extremely light, simple andcomparatively inexpensive appliance havingthe" advantages sought andheretofore attained .only in more complicated form un suited to wearupon the person beneath clothing and also distas'teful because of themachine-like appearance which the prior devices have presented. 7 x j.

The top partof the pad 10 will ordinarily be hard, or relatively hard,but in cases. where so indicatedcby medical or surgical'requiremeritsthe outer one-quarter or one-thirdmay The peculiar and novelconstruction of the surgical support brings about" automatic massagethrough automatic action of the pad 10 and annulus 16, on the flexiblefabric strip, with the adhesive mass spread thereon. The fieXible fabricstrip, holding the pad 10 and annulus 16 firmly against themuscles andtissues, and over the opening, serves every intent and purpose, so faras local pressure and retention of the viscera, is concerned; further,the fabric being flexible there is a certain space left immediatelysurrounding the annulus 16 suflicient to'permit both pad 10 and annulus16 to move not translativeiy on the epidermis, but with an oscillatory,or vibratory motion, caused by inhaling and exhaling of the breath,which causes the entirediaphragm-- including the abdominalcavity-tocontract and expand with each respiratory movement, producingthat natural motion, automatically brought about by the peculiardiaphragmatic rise and fall of the diaphragm. Va-

rious other movements of the body incident to the conscious activitiesof the wearer contribute to this effect.

It is to be remembered that abdominal hernia is caused by a relaxation,weakening and consequent separation of certain muscular fibres andtissues surrounding certain natural openings, in the abdominal walls,the

usual points of occurrence being the inguinal opening; the femoralopening and the umbelical opening. Also be it remembered that musclescan be strengthened by application thereto of the proper stimulione ofthe most common, and perhaps the best form of stimulus, being massage.

The novel construction, application and i use of the surgical support,therefore, produces and furnishes the massage; hence the proper stimulito the affected muscles tending to curative outcome of the use of myappliance.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a central hard pad member,and a thick soft and elastic annulus fitted snugly thereon, the padbeing of an altitude from bottom totop much greater than thecorresponding measurement of the annulus, said pad having a series ofirregularities on its lateral surfaces spaced from the top of the padand being constructed and adapted to be embedded in the engaged part ofthe annulus by contraction of the latter, to prevent casual slipping ofthe annulus from adjusted positionson the pad, the lower side portionsof said pad having a mutual relation between diametrically oppositeportions such as to support the annulus in positions spaced from thebottom of the pad, whereby the annulus will be held adjustably withrespect to the top of the pad, said annulus being of suificient tensilestrength to trans mit effective pressure from the annulus to ture.

FRANK J. STUART.

